System for reclaiming solar energy in buildings

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a system for reclaiming solar energy in buildings, comprising a fluid inlet header pipe, a fluid outlet header pipe and a plurality of heat collector panels connected to the two pipes at ends thereof respectively. Fluid with a lower temperature from the fluid inlet header pipe enters into the heat collector panels, where it is heated to a higher temperature by the solar energy stored therein, and then discharges from the system via the fluid outlet header pipe for energy reuse. The heat collector panels are mounted on the inner surface of the cladding panels of the building, so that the outer appearance of the building will not be negatively influenced by the system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a solar energy reclaimed system for collecting energy transmitted onto the building envelope by means of solar radiation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Solar energy is one of the most precious gifts the human being received from the nature world. The solar energy naturally exists. Its usage is harm free to the environment. Moreover, its supply is virtually unlimited. All these properties make a big driver to explore the solar energy full capability so as to benefit the environment.

However, solar energy is of low thermal density and the solar radiation is varied and unstable, which impose great difficulties on utilization of solar energy. As well known, buildings are under radiation of sunshine during daytime and thus accumulate huge heat therein, in particular in summer time. In order to reclaim solar energy from the existing buildings, a special system has been developed in the past years. Such system usually includes solar panels covering the surface of the building, the panels being sun-path oriented so as to collect the energy stored in the buildings more efficiently. Therefore, these solar panels will lead to a complex installation work due to its specific orientation. In addition, the existence of the solar panels inevitably deteriorates the outlook of the whole buildings. Moreover, the efficiency of the system is not well optimized to achieve the best operation condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a solar energy reclaimed system for buildings without installation of specific sun-path oriented solar panels, thus reducing the complexity of installation. The system comprises building cladding panels and fluid-circulated heat collector panels to reclaim solar energy stored in the buildings by heating up the fluid running inside the heat collector panels.

According to the present invention, a system for reclaiming solar energy in buildings is provided, comprising a fluid inlet header pipe, a fluid outlet header pipe and a plurality of heat collector panels connected to the two pipes at ends thereof respectively, wherein fluid with a lower temperature from the fluid inlet header pipe enters into the heat collector panels, where it is heated to a higher temperature by the solar energy stored therein, and then discharges from the system via the fluid outlet header pipe for energy reuse.

In a preferred embodiment, the system further includes a cladding panel, on the inner surface of which the heat collector panels are mounted. The cladding panel forms part of envelope of the building. Since the heat collector panels are mounted on the inner surface of the cladding panel, the outer appearance of the building will not be changed at all. Moreover, as no special requirement is needed for the material and design of the cladding panel, it makes the system virtually adaptable to most existing buildings.

In an example, each of the heat collector panels includes a series of flow passages therein, thus forming a roll bond heat collector. Fluid from the fluid inlet header pipe flows in the flow passages of the heat collector panels, where it is heated by the energy stored in the heat collector panels, and then discharges from the fluid outlet header pipe with a higher temperature for reuse. Preferably, the space enclosed by the heat collector and the cladding panel is filled with heat conductive materials, so that the heat stored in the heat collector panel can be efficiently transferred to the fluid running through the flow passages. Moreover, the flow passages in the heat collector panels can be securely connect, e.g. welded, to the inner surface of the cladding panels, for example through their outer walls. Thus a stable structure can be obtained.

The system can further include an external fluid pump for maintaining necessary fluid circulation in the system.

The system according to the present invention is virtually applicable to all types of building, which form its envelope by means of metallic cladding panel. As a result, buildings incorporating the system are not distinguishable from the exterior. Hence, the existence of system will not affect the outlook of the building.

The system not only provides fluid with a higher temperature for energy reuse, but also can effectively lower the building envelope surface temperature as well as heat energy infiltrated into the building. Hence, it can also improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the building's climatic control system, thus minimizing the need for additional air conditioning equipments for the buildings.

In short, the system according to the invention has the following major advantages:

a) Simplicity of construction;

b) Maintenance free design;

c) Zero impact visually regarding architectural appearance; and

d) Effective collection of solar energy transmitted onto the building envelope as well as good separation of outdoor environment.

The system according to the invention is readily adaptable to most existing buildings by means of minor modification work, and can also be made a must for new construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated by consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the solar energy reclaimed system for buildings according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is the sectional view taken from line B-B of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the solar energy reclaimed system 1 for buildings according to the present invention. The system 1 comprises a fluid inlet header pipe 10, a fluid outlet header pipe 20 and a plurality of heat collector panels 30. In this embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, there are three heat collector panels 30 arranged one after the other, each forming a heat reclaimed circuit.

The heat collector panel 30 is embedded a series of flow passages 40 therein, thus forming a roll bond heat collector in uniform swirl circuitry and a one-way passage. The flow passages 40 communicate with the fluid inlet header pipe 10 and the fluid outlet header pipe 20 at both ends thereof respectively. The roll bond heat collector is well known in the art, and thus the detailed description therefore is omitted here for the sake of conciseness.

As shown in FIG. 1, fluid, e.g. water, with lower temperature can enter into the fluid inlet header pipe 10 via an inlet not shown, and then flow into the flow passages 40. The solar energy generated by the sunshine, collected from radiated heat and thus stored into the heat collector panel 30 will transfer to the fluid running through the flow passages 40 by means of convection. The heated fluid then leaves from the flow passages 40 to the fluid outlet header pipe 20. After passing through all of the heat collector panels 30, the fluid with higher temperature is discharged from the fluid outlet header pipe 20 for energy reuse.

In one embodiment, the heat collector panel 30 is constructed independently, and connected to, e.g., bolted on, the cladding panel 50 of the building to ensure reasonable maintainability. As shown in FIG. 2, the heat collector panels 30 with the flow passages 40 are mounted on the inner surface of the cladding panel 50. In this way, the outlook of the building will not be changed. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the cladding panel 50 of the building can form part of the inventive system 1 instead. That is, the solar energy reclaimed system 1 according to the invention can further include a cladding panel 50, on the inner surface of which the heat collector panel 30 is mounted. The cladding panels 50 form a part of envelope of the building.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the flow passages 40 in the heat collector panel 30 is arranged to contact the inner surface of the cladding panel 50. In a particular embodiment, the flow passages 40 are securely connected, e.g., welded, to the inner surface of the cladding panel 50 through the outer walls thereof. In this way, a stable structure of the heat collector panel 30 and the cladding panel 50 is obtained. In the embodiment as shown, the spaces enclosed by the cladding panel 50 and the heat collector panel 30 (and the flow passages 40 also) are filled with heat conductive materials 35 for efficient conduction effect. In this way, the efficiency of reclaiming energy can be significantly enhanced.

In addition, an external water pump (not shown) can be installed to maintain a necessary fluid circulation in the system. Obviously, the pump can be selected by one skilled in the art as needed.

Although in the embodiment as shown there are three heat collector panels 30 arranged, the quantity thereof can be freely selected as needed. According to the invention, the quantity of the heat collector panels can be determined with the consideration of at least one or more of the following factors: desired system capacity; building orientation; system maintainability and extra loading to the building.

In another embodiment not shown, a plurality of the systems 1 as shown in FIG. 1 are connected to each other in series. Therefore, the efficiency of reclaiming energy can be enhanced also.

With sufficient fluid flowing through the flowing passages 40, the solar energy absorbed in the heat collector panel 30 will be transferred to the running fluid by means of convection. The efficiency of the system is a correlation of fluid flow rate and the solar energy intensity. As the solar energy intensity of each building is hugely dependent on the geographical location as well as the orientation, hence the optimum fluid flow rate will be determined independently for each building.

Upon completion of the system, a survey of solar energy pattern is conducted for each particular system. A thorough system performance test is conducted regarding to different time of a day, and different days of a year, targeted to determine the optimum system operation point.

It should be noted that the system is not specifically dependent upon solar heat directly collected from sunshine, but can also recover the heat that is radiated upward from the surroundings of the building. Therefore, the term “solar energy” used herein should be understood in a broad scope, including all kinds of heat energy that may raise temperature of the building.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be made in the cladding systems of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It is intended that the present invention covers all the modifications and variations thereof provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A system for reclaiming solar energy in buildings, comprising a fluid inlet header pipe, a fluid outlet header pipe and a plurality of heat collector panels connected to the two pipes at ends thereof respectively, wherein fluid with a lower temperature from the fluid inlet header pipe enters into the heat collector panels, where it is heated to a higher temperature by the solar energy stored therein, and then discharges from the system via the fluid outlet header pipe for energy reuse.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein each heat collector panel includes a series of flow passages therein, thus forming a roll-bond heat collector.
 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the heat collector panels are mounted on the inner surface of cladding panel of the building.
 4. The system according to claim 2, wherein it further includes a cladding panel, on the inner surface of which the heat collector panels are mounted, and wherein the cladding panel forms part of envelope of the building.
 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the space enclosed by the heat collector panel and the cladding panel is filled with heat conductive materials.
 6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the flow passages in the heat collector panels are securely connected to the inner surface of the cladding panel.
 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein it further includes an external water pump for maintaining fluid circulation in the system.
 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the quantity of the heat collector panels used in the system is determined by at least one or more of the following factors: desired system capacity, building orientation, system maintainability and extra loading to the building.
 9. The system according to claim 2, wherein the flow rate of fluid in the flow passages is determined by the geographical location and the orientation of the building.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein it is operated at an optimum operation point determined by a survey of solar energy pattern conducted over a certain time for the system. 